Grigor Dimitrov ousts top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the Miami Open quarterfinals

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Eleventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov came out strong against top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday night and went on to win 6-2, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarterfinals, his first victory over a top-five player in nearly five years.

Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, who beat unseeded Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 7-5, will play Dimitrov in the semifinals Friday. Second-seeded Jannik Sinner will face No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in the other semifinal, a rematch of last year’s final that Medvedev won.

Dimitrov said he didn't want to evaluate the quality of his play against Alcaraz “since I have to play again tomorrow. I’m trying to stay on point. This is how our sport is. You appreciate it, of course. You’re very happy with the current win. Then you have to quickly move on and start focusing on the next match.”

Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, entered this tournament off a victory over Medvedev at Indian Wells. But the world's second-ranked player had trouble finding his game against Dimitrov and became visibly frustrated numerous times in the first set.

But Alcaraz didn't go away even after falling behind a break at 4-2 in the second set. He broke Dimitrov at love and then held serve to even the set at 4-4. Dimitrov, though, won the final two games, breaking Alcaraz in the clincher.

Alacaraz said Dimitrov played “almost perfect.”

“I have a lot of frustrations right now because he made me feel like I’m 13 years old,” the 20-year-old Alcaraz said. “It was crazy. I was talking to my team saying that I don’t know what I have to do. I don’t know his weakness. I don’t know anything.”

This was Dimitrov's first victory over a top-five player since he beat then-No. 3 Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the 2019 U.S. Open.

On the women's side, fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina once again had to go three sets, pushed to the edge before beating No. 27 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (2) in the semifinals.

Rybakina, ranked fourth on the WTA Tour, will on Saturday face unseeded Danielle Collins, who defeated No. 14 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-2. Rybakina also made last year's final, losing in straight sets to Petra Kvitová.

“This year, it’s much different,” Rybakina said. “I was not expecting, honestly, to be in the final because I was not prepared that well for this tournament, but really happy that I managed to battle through all these matches and be in the final again.”

A day off will likely be welcome for Rybakina, who has been pushed to three sets in all but one match this tournament. Thursday’s match lasted 2 hours, 33 minutes, and she told the Tennis Channel that for the first time in her career, she has rested on the days between matches during a tournament.

“In the beginning, these long matches were helping me to get back in shape,” Rybakina said. “Now I’m not in shape just because I’m tired of all these long matches, but overall, it was really successful tournament no matter how I do in the final.”

Rybakina appeared to take control when she broke Azarenka's serve to take a 3-2 lead in the third set. Azarenka fought off four break points before hitting a two-handed backhand into the net to give Rybakina the game.

It was quite a response from the second set when Azarenka lost only two points on her serve, and one came on a double fault.

But Azarenka wasn't done. With Rybakina serving for the match, Azarenka broke back to even the final set at 5-5. Both players then held serve to send the match to a tiebreaker, which belonged to Rybakina, who went up 6-1. She wrapped up the victory with a cross-court forehand.

Rybakina is seeking her third title this year. She is 4-0 in her career against Azarenka, including two victories this year.

Azarenka, 34, was attempting to become the tournament's oldest winner. She became the second-oldest semifinalist; 36-year-old Venus Williams made the semis in 2017.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria returns the ball to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain greet each other at the end of their match during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Dimitrov defeated Alcaraz. 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, hits a return to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, hits a return to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, reacts after winning a point against Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, hits a return to Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, right, shakes hands with Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, left, after winning their quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, reacts after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MADRID (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz didn’t need to put his tender right arm to the test while easing to victory in his opening match at the Madrid Open on Friday.

The two-time defending champion was playing for the first time in nearly a month after his injured arm ruled him out of Monte Carlo and Barcelona. And after doubting this week he would be good to go in Spain’s capital, Alcaraz admitted he could afford to hold back a little in a 6-2, 6-1 win over Alexander Shevchenko.

“I didn’t hit my forehand 100%. I hit it softer than I used to hit it, but I think it helped me, you know, to, let’s say, stay relaxed,” Alcaraz said. “But the first thing that I was thinking about when I was stepping on the court is to stay healthy.

“I was really happy to not feel anything in the forearm, and after that I could increase my intensity a bit. It was great for me this match."

Defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka faced tougher resistance in her opening match while beating Magda Linette 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on the Caja Magica clay.

This was Alcaraz’s first match since the Miami Open quarterfinals nearly one month ago. Madrid is the Spaniard's first appearance on the European clay court swing — he struggled in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in February — as he aims to win his first French Open title next month.

“Right now I’m thinking to be better or get better every day, and I’m thinking to be closer to my 100% here in Madrid." the two-time major champion said. "Let’s see how it’s going to be the next few weeks. But the main thing is to be ready for next tournament and obviously to Roland Garros.”

In Madrid, the third-ranked Alcaraz is seeded second behind Jannik Sinner and both enjoyed first-round byes.

Alcaraz played with a compression sleeve on his right arm from his wrist up past his elbow. But he looked pretty much like the same aggressive player who has dominated here for the past two years and given Spanish tennis fans hope there is life after Rafael Nadal.

Alcaraz broke Shevchenko’s serve four times and will next face Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil.

Seyboth Wild upset Daniil Medvedev at last year's French Open and should offer a stiffer challenge to Alcaraz in the round of 32.

Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, another two-time Madrid champion, saw off Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 and will face Denis Shapovalov next.

Seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 6-4. Rublev’s last win came at Indian Wells in March.

Holger Rune was just two points from defeat against Mariano Navone before he rallied to force a second-set tiebreaker and finally prevailed 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

Eighth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz beat Jack Draper 6-1, 7-5. Last year’s finalist Jan Lennard Struff, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Alejandro Davidovich, and Sebastian Baez also moved on.

SABALENKA'S SLOW START

The second-ranked Sabalenka struggled with her serve at times against Linette, but the two-time Australian Open winner struck her 10th ace on match point.

Sabalenka got some help from the net to get a key break and go up 5-3 in the third set when Linette was unable to reach a shot by the Belarusian that clipped the top of the tape.

Sabalenka has either won it all in Madrid as she did in 2021 and last year, or gone out in the first round as she did in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a good sign and I will keep it like that,” she said. “I either lose in the first or I win (the title).”

Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-3 to take her season-leading win haul to 27 as she seeks her fourth title of 2024.

Rybakina will next face Egypt’s Mayar Sherif after she upset Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round.

Danielle Collins extended her career-best win streak to 14 matches after beating Serb qualifier Olga Danilovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8) from 6-4, 3-1 down.

Fifth-seeded Zheng Qinwen, who lost the Australian Open final to Sabalenka, withdrew with a right thigh injury while trailing Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 2-0.

Sixteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who made her breakout at Madrid last year, bettered 19-year-old Linda Noskova 4-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Carolina Garcia, and Jasmine Paolini also advanced.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Magda Linette, of Poland, reacts during her game against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarusian, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarusian, returns the ball to Magda Linette, of Poland, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, serves a ball to Alexander Shevchenko, of Kazakhstan, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Alexander Shevchenko, of Kazakhstan, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Alexander Shevchenko, of Kazakhstan, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, competes against Alexander Shevchenko, of Kazakhstan, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns the ball to Magda Linette, of Poland, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Alexander Shevchenko, of Kazakhstan, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)